Blondie 'N' SC

The Vintage Tea Collection~

My sweet friend, Jennifer Rizzo just launched her new line called "The Vintage Tea Collection" on Etsy and I just have to say I am blown away with her creativity and her styling.

I have always known Jen to be talented and dedicated to her work, but this Collection takes the cake, here is just a sneak peek of photos I stole from her blog:

Doesn't this image look like it could be straight out of a page from the Anthropologie Catalogue?

Again, I can see these towels frolicking on the racks at Anthro....just fabulous!

You can see more on her Blog, where you can also enter to win an Amazing giveaway, seriously you don't want to miss this one...you can thank me later for showing you the way...!

Here are the goods...

What?

I know, all of this could be yours, but just so you know, I will tackle you to the ground for them if she calls your name and not mine...!

Yes, I am that immature at times...case in point why my 4 year old finds me uber "fun"!

You can also browse through Jen's Etsy Shoppe for all her fabulous new goodies!

Off to "Pin" some of these images!

Happy Monday Friends!

Garage Pretty~

We for one don't have a pretty garage, as a matter of fact, I am quite embarrassed most of the time about the state of our garage. The pool man and I often bicker about the mess as well...

Now I understand that most garages serve a purpose such as parking your cars, storing your multitude of holiday decor boxes, housing the lawn mower and gardening tools or hanging up bikes. I  also understand that most garages are not worthy of mention, or create a"beautiful space" buzz throughout the blog world or home decor magazines....but sometimes, as I am finding my way through our garage, trying to find a paint brush or a cleaning cloth meanwhile tripping on various toys strewn about the garage or bike tires and miscellaneous pieces of wood.... I stop and ponder the possibility of a "pretty"garage, or is that a complete oxymoron?

Today I found some inspiring photos, which in turn made me create a new board on Pinterest, called "Garage Pretty"...because I vow someday to have a pretty garage and if you saw the state of my garage at this exact moment, you would probably gasp at the mess we have created in the 6 years we have inhabited our home...

Now our garage is not big enough by any stretch of the imagination, but I would love a space like this:

 

Via

Just a small corner of the garage would do to wash my freshly cut flowers & arrange them in fabulous vintage pottery.... a space to store my potting supplies, gardening books {if I actually had those} and a fabulous space to wash my littlest, because goodness that sink is baby washin' worthy!

Now I see many uses for this next beauty, and although the pool man would scoff at the idea, several of these in our garage would help organize our mess...and as i sit and stare at this, I believe the pool man might be able to build us a few of these...after all stylish storage like this is hard to come by & pretty pricey!

Via

I included a close up of the amazing storage ideas...just in case you thought your eyes were deceiving you!

{they weren't... it really is that amazing...}

Via

Simple and to the point...clean and organized...

And do you see those yellow wellies?

Those are on my "want list"..they have been for some time...!

Via

I think the pool man would go for something like this:

Via
 

After all, he is a kid at heart and all those projects he likes to do in his spare time, might actually get finished!

Here are a few more "Garage Pretty" ideas:

Via

via

Small work station/garden bench in the corner of the garage would be fantastic...

with painted peg boards for tools, labeled no less:

Via

And vintage lockers and  wire baskets for storage...

Via

All these images leave me thinking...perhaps one day we can have a space that is "garage pretty"...perhaps the pool man has some free time this weekend!

I hope you have a great weekend, thank you for the e-mails and the warm welcome back...

Makes a girl who felt lost for a bit feel like she found her way home so to speak!

xoxo~ 

Our Little Bird's Nursery~

Well hello there, if anyone still reads this silly old blog, I am making good on a promise I made to you finally!

As promised, uh something like 8 months ago, here is our little bird's nursery!

The bedding is an old Wendy Belissimo argyle design I got off Ebay for a steal.  The sheets went with the set and I got a few extra on Ebay as well. The colors are perfect for his room, so I was quite pleased when the whole set and the extra sheets only cost me $75.oo! 

 

 
I didn't have a lot of money to put into his room, the walls stayed the same color, chocolate brown, the wainscoting was already there in a crisp white, and the crib is a hammie down from his older brother complete with teeth marks along the top railing!

 

As I am typing this I have a sleeping sugar beat in my lap....the sound of his heavy breathing soothes my soul...but makes typing a bit of a challenge!

 

The only  new large piece I purchased was the changing table which we also use as a dresser for his clothes...the window was given to me and the banner is from vintage maps found off Etsy.

 

I used a lot of old locker baskets to hold diapers, burp cloths and uh.... more diapers!

I got all 5 baskets off Ebay as well.

 

 We re-did his closet by taking the ugly mirrored 1980's doors off and my handy pool man created a built in for all the baby's goodies!  I have to say his closet looks bigger and more organized now!  

However, don't ask me how long it took us to finish this closet or about my lack in judgement when I painted the wood built- ins tangerine orange while the pool man stood there watching as I painted knowing I was having a very manic pregnant moment {please tell me you all had one of these?}. After all was said and done the built- in are now white the color it should have been to begin with!

The globe is from Etsy, and the little doggie was a thrift store find...

More hammy down shirts from my punk...

 

And little airplanes made by a friend for my shower, I loved them so much I used painted clothes pins from Etsy to attach them to the hangers...

The dresser in the closet is vintage and holds his bedding and uh, more diapers! I got it at a local resale shoppe for a steal and painted it primer white! Yes, Primer White in the spray can!

The suitcase is from Ebay...

His room is a bit more modern and clean then how I usually decorate, which really means there isn't a whole lot of crap laying around like in the rest of my house! {she grins}

 I tried to make his room have a different feel then his brothers, so they each had their own indivdual space.

The wood rocking horse is very old and was my grandmother's....

And the sea grass rug sits in front of his crib for some texture in the room...the pool man hates the feel of it on his feet, but I am smitten with sea grass!

Sweet embroidered hoop from here!

  

His name starts with a "G" if you hadn't figured that out yet... we now have three G's in our home! My two boys along with the dog who happens to be named Greg! 

There are small touches from Etsy here and there as well, and personalized signs with his name that hang in the closet and in the jack and jill bathroom the boys will share....but my favorite piece in the whole room is his mobile!

  I hope once he is sleeping in his room he will find it just as amazing as I do!

  

Airplanes and floating clouds...

Simple and Sweet...and all creatively made out of paper!

Mobile can be found here...

 

Well that is all folks, thanks for coming along for the tour!

Hope you all had a great Memorial Weekend, with lots of sunshine and celebrations...

'til we meet again, may your paths be sprinkled with happiness and your feet never bare of a good pair of flippy flops!

Cheers!

 P.S. My computer is a complete piece of _____ lately, you fill in the blank, anyway, it would take me a whole day to add links to this post, so if anyone has any questions or wants to know where I got something just leave it in the comments, and I will get back to you!

P.s.s. I don't care for ironing, so please don't judge me..the bedskirt is hideously wrinkled, but it gives the room character and an imperfectness I kinda like!

ok, just had to get that out of the way! ta ta!

 

 
 

Walmart~

I thought my water broke in Walmart.

 Two days before I was to go in to have our sweet "little bird", i was walking through walmart in flip flops that make a shuffling sound as I walked along the linoleum floors picking up a few last minute items we needed. As I followed an employee of walmart to isle 9, looking for a new lunch sack for my punk, the insulated type, I felt a tingling down my legs followed by a warm sensation, my arms were filled with laundry detergent, baby wipes, hand sanitizer, and other odds and ends as I was too lazy to get a cart. All of a sudden I stopped in my tracks as I felt like i had just peed my pants right in front of an awesome two man tent, and I thought to myself, "holy shit, my water just broke...in Walmart". The sales lady was adimit in finding me a lunch sack, and I really didn't have the heart to tell her that I think my water just broke, so I crossed my legs for dear life, as she searched the shelves. Fortunately, we never found a lunch sack, and more importantly I didn't have to follower her any where else, I just thanked her for her time, and shuffled myself along the linoleum floors to the check out stand...hoping, I had just peed my pants in Walmart instead of having to call the pool man and explain that our "little bird" was going to be born right here in the "walmarts"....thankfully if you look at it that way, I just peed my pants a little, which if I was not 9 months pregnant I would have been totally embarrassed to admit that..but being that a small one had been practicing kung fu on my bladder for the last two months, I think most of you can relate...!

 

Our sweet second boy is sitting her next to me in his car seat, listening to the music on my blog, and the pounding of the keys on the keyboard, two sounds he will surely get used to quickly, as he has become my side kick of sorts these days. With big brother playing with his friends, and spending time growing up big at preschool and before my eyes, my "little bird" has stolen a part of my heart with his sweet disposition and his little bird noises as he sleeps next to me.

  

He came exactly at 5:25 pm on April 14th.

The pool man and I walked into the birthing room that morning, thinking this inducing process would take all day long, and within 9 hours and 5 pushes our second son was born, with no hiccups and as perfect as I had prayed for over the 9 months he grew in my tummy. The pool man didn't say a word the whole time, although we did have a good laugh at the sight of my legs being completely numb from the fantastic epidural Dr. Wong had delivered in record time. I laughed so hard as the pool man and a nurse lifted the dead weight of my legs into the stirrups, and asked me to push, I think for a moment I actually forgot I was in labor...and a few moments later, out slipped our baby boy!

  

Our little bird, strong as an ox, lifting his head when ever he gets the chance, looks pretty much like the pool man, small little pouty lips, enormous hands and feet, and weighed in at 8.5 pounds and 20 inches long...I sat in the hospital for two days straight starring at my wee one...and the moment our punk met his baby brother, he was smitten, just like his mommy and daddy. Our punk calls him, "my baby" and honestly he can't get enough of his little brother.

  

My mom and I took my son to get a haircut on Tuesday, little byrd came along with us...as we walked into the barber shoppe, my son jumped into the barber chair and I stood watching as the barber took three different buzzers to his thick head of hair, cut after cut he sat in that chair so still....I stood back watching taking in the scene, and got a little teary eyed as my punk is growing up to be so big, so independent, so handsome. The man at the front desk walked over to my mom who had our little bird all snuggled in his car-seat and stroller, he peeked in and said to my mom, "another miracle". My heart bloomed again....cause the man was right, sitting before me was my first miracle, my first born, my first love...and my heart has blossomed for the love of  my second born, two miracles and for that I am truly blessed.

And thankful our little bird wasn't born in the middle of the camping isle of Walmart!

Thank you for the outpouring of love and blessings to our now family of 4!

We are smitten!

 
 
 Much love from this slightly sleep deprived mommy of two!

P.S. My wee one can almost roll himself over, and as I laid him on a suitcase just a few inches off the ground for this photoshoot, he started to squirm and with cat like reactions, I caught him mid air with one hand...as he almost rolled himself right off the suitcase....! I firmly believe he was just trying to show off for me....and dare I say I might have another stunt man/extreme sports enthusiast on my hands like his big brother...! ekkkk...

 

 

Today~

I woke at 4:00 am to the sound of a harmony of birds outside our bedroom window. The pool man was turned towards me on his side, all snuggled into the feather blanket we use for warmth. The window was cracked open so a faint breeze nestled through the room. I rolled over to check the time, 4:01 am and as I snuggled back into my warm little spot a sweet little kick reminded me that a sweet soul is still growing and being nurtured in my tummy. I closed my eyes and fell back to sleep for another hour or so....

As the sound of the alarm rang out, I was reminded that today, today is my last day of work for 5 months. Today at 3:00 I join the ranks of other stay at home moms. I no longer get up before the sunrise. I will no longer make a 30 minute trip to work, feeling groggy and wishing the day away. I will be home with my punk and soon a wee one that will both need my attention at the same time, and I will be learning and making mistakes daily that will only in the end enhance this notion of family.

Today marks the last Thursday we will be a family of 3. On Thursday, April 14th the pool man and I will wake up together around 5:30 am, roll out of bed, and give each other a sincere gaze with no words to be exchanged, pull on our comfy clothes which means my hair will most definitely be in a pony tail, sneak into our punks room for one last kiss and I love you, before we pile into the car and head for the hospital to meet our newest member of the family.

As I type these words, I get a wee bit teary eyed, as the last 4 years have been filled with so much magic and love for our punk, that I am not sure how I will love another baby with the same passion and affection, but I have been told it comes naturally, so I am leaning on that notion with all my heart.

We loaded the baby's carseat into my 4-Runner over the weekend, and my sweet little boy was excited to learn that the baby will be sitting right next to him in his big boy seat. I am hopeful that his excitement and love for his new little brother will continue once he is really here....

Last night I was completely worn out, with a cold lingering and lack of energy, my mom took on the task of getting  my son into bed, which these days has been a chore as he has become the world's biggest procrastinator when it comes to bed time. He drags himself up to the stairs telling me he is too tired to walk with his blanket with the one really worn corner that comforts little souls trailing between his legs. He marches down the hall after a strenuous trek up the stairs and flings himself onto his bed, we follow closely behind him...I left his room to go and brush my teeth, while brushing my teeth I snuck back into his room, and watched as he teetered on his stool in front of the sink telling grandma that he is getting all the sugar bugs out of his teeth while intently staring at himself in the mirror. He drags himself back to bed after a good rinse with water and we go through the ritual of hugs and kisses and then more hugs and kisses....and as I turn the light off after grandma, I turn to blow a kiss his way. He blows one back at me and says, "momma, save my kisses"...and I proclaim in a soft voice, I love you baby and I will keep your kisses in my pocket!

These are the times I cherish the sweet little memories that flood my mind continuously, that keep me afloat most days, and as I closed his door, I think to myself soon there will be 2...2 x the kisses, 2 times the hugs, and 2 x the amount of love to go around....and as I walk the 4 steps from his room to mine, crawl into bed and find a comfortable postion for both me and baby, I give the wee on a rub and pull a kiss from my pocket just for him and fall to sleep within two minutes of my head hitting the pillow.

Today....today is the beginning of new journey, and I think I am finally ready!

Blessings from this sentimental blondie to you~

 P.S. My son is now 3.5 months seizure free while off his medicine, each day we make it through is a blessing and I wanted to say thank you to everyone who has prayed for him, and kept him in your thoughts, for that I am grateful!

Be back soon as a mommy of 2...ekk!

This little Fella~

Good Morning sugar plums, and happy Tuesday!

I am going to be honest here...this little fella has sucked the life out of me, from morning sickness, to migraines, to spotting, to bed-rest, to feeling like I can't get up in the morning to go to work because I am literally exhausted, and leading into gestational diabetes and not being able to eat what I want (which can make me cranky and tired) to being so big at 35 weeks that I honestly haven't been myself. Some days I want to cry and some days I want to laugh hysterically at the thought I once had that being pregnant one more time would be a breeze like my first.

 

But I don't want to sit here on my rump and complain, I don't want to feel depressed which I did for many months through this pregnancy as hormones over took me. I know there are so many women out there that would give anything for a baby and well for me to complain would be down right selfish.

So through these last three weeks of pregnancy I vow to enjoy each day, to treasure the movements I feel in my belly, to pray that each week he is getting stronger and soon we will meet him face to face...and our oldest punk will know what it means to have a little brother (whether he likes it or not)...

 
We took these photos when I was 32 weeks...so you can imagine just how much bigger I am at 35 weeks!

 
I basically roll out of bed, waddle down the hallway to the bathroom in the morning and stand in front of my closet with puffy eyes and swollen feet trying to find clothes that will still work with this giant belly I am supporting!

 

At this moment he weighs 6 pounds, 8 ounces, he is 85% on height, 74% for his belly....and wait for it....

 

95% for his head....Goodness....95%.... I had to reconfirm that with my OBGYN a few times and then I had to make sure he really thought it was a good idea that I had him naturally....I struggled to get my first son out, went through 36 hours of labor...and he was only 6 pounds 13 ounces.

I am going to end this post with pray for me...

I may just literally break in two delivering this little fella!

Hugs and kisses from this momma to you!

 P.S. No sea animals were harmed in these photos...

P.S.S. Yes, I know I need a hair cut, but I can't make myself go and sit in a chair for two hours to get it done...

 

4 Weeks Left~

We have 4 weeks left until our wee one joins our now family of 3 to make 4...we are eagerly anticipating his arrival, well maybe just me because my feet are getting fat and swollen from sitting behind this desk all day, and my belly is so big that I can't go anywhere without people asking if I am due any day...you should see their faces when I tell them I still have 4 weeks....it is priceless...

I know I promised photos of his nursery, and the loft, and of me, but guess what I have none of those today...nope...the loft is still in the process of becoming grandma's quarters and the nursery doesn't have a crib up yet. I wanted to be completely done when I hit my 8th month, but apparently well laid plans don't always pan out....

We did take family photos two weekends ago, I am awaiting those, so I can show you just how big I am, well my belly that is...I sadly have gestational diabetes again, this will be my second baby and my second go around with gestational diabetes, and let me just say it is kicking my ass, and yes you would say that too, if you dined on carrots, cheese, nuts, water and mustard ( I could eat a whole bottle of mustard a day) on a daily basis. Did I mention I don't eat much meat? Finding foods I can eat that won't set my little black meter that checks my blood sugar off the Richter scale or put me in a diabetic coma has been challenging...but I will survive, I have another little punk who is worth eating like this for. The good news is I haven't gained that much weight, so i just look like i have a basketball tucked under my shirt...

So you might be wondering what the heck I am doing on here, if i have nothing to show you...besides running my mouth, which I like to do, as much as I like to shop, so I thought I would show you what I bought for the baby off etsy!

Ready...

Set...

go!

 
Our new bundle will be coming home from the hospital in this darling knitted hat...

is that baby not the cutest thing, I want to eat him...with mustard of course,

 I kid... I kid!

I also picked up these Q-t's:

 
 
Cathi's Crochet Creations

 
Chunky Monkey Beanies 

And because every baby needs a snugly blanket:

 
 
Fresh Lemons

Some fun prints for his room...this is basically the color pallet for his nursery, remember the walls are chocolate brown, and white bead board on the bottom...

 

 
Trendy Peas

My boys will have an adjoining bathroom, or "jack and jill" bathroom, and I bought two of these with their names on them for the bathrooms walls....



Trendy Peas

From the fabulous Urban Farmgirl this pretty little globe sits on a shelf in his closet:



And for mommy, cause you know mommy deserves something pretty too:

a little linen pouch to throw in my diaper bag...I liked this because I could add my ID, credit card and money to this little guy and go!


The Naked Squirrel 
 

and of course mommy needed a new diaper bag...or Two! 

 

 A Bushel and a Peck

 

Track and Field 

Mobiles have always been hard for me, my 1st punk didn't have one...but when I saw this I was smitten, and I have to say it is the sweetest thing in his room:

 

Cactus and Olive

I had her change the colors to match his room, and add a few more planes, so once I get some photos of his nursery up here I will show you what it looks like exactly...

I had my shower at the end of February, and some of my girlfriends pitched in and got me a new carseat cover with fabric choice "I" and brown minkey fabric mixed in:

 
 Sassy Stork

and I absolutely love it!

And some bath time fun includes these:

 
Cocoa Beans 

My sweet sweet friend, Michelle sent me this darling little onesie:

 
Plum Tree Studio

 My friend Pat who is always thinking of me and sends me the best gifts sent this to me and the poolman:

 
Simple Wear

Obviously we aren't named David and Lara, but you get the idea...i was thinking how funny it would be to have it read, blondiensc and the pool man, but ya know not everyone would get it....so it does say our real names, which we do have!

Now we just need baby to fill up the room we have created and his comfy carseat so he can take rides with us down to the beach!

 I also re-did some parts of my son's room, and bought a few things off etsy, but this post is pretty full, so I will be back and show you those!

I am off to finish my carrots, string cheese and bottle of mustard, and i just noticed the bottle of mustard has direction for use on it...really? they must add that for pregnant mindless people like me!

Ta ta for now....

oh, ouch that was a baby foot way up in my rib...thankyouverymuch!

 

P.s. My son is starting to sing in the car...he was all over Katie Perry's Fireworks song and the pool man said he digs ACDC, so at least he will be well rounded in the music arena!

 

Dear Hormones~

Dear Horomones,

Enough is enough already!!

 I can't take you anymore since you went into overdrive 7.5 months ago.

Because of you I about ripped the pool man's head off Sunday and low and behold I might have told him he was acting like an A**hole, which was clearly not the case as the finger should have been pointed directly at me. And then I felt like crying for being so mean...the pool man is about to move into the garage to sleep with the dog...the dog gets him right now, I don't.

 You have invaded my life like a freight train with a one way ticket, and unfortunately I know you aren't leaving anytime soon, and well that pisses me off.

Because of you, I got mad at the dog for chewing on his bone to loud while I was trying to have some down time watching Grey's Anatomy, and because of you, my son repeated the words, "what the heck" with a very dramatic "ugh" at the end as he tried to move something to get to the light switch. I have no idea where he got that kind of language, or drama for that matter, really I don't!

Because of you, I have to check the mirror every 5 minutes hoping a new little pimple hasn't shown its little face. Because of you, some days I just want to implode because I think it would just make everyone a little more at ease around my house, there would be less walking  around on pins and needles...I am gaining a reputation at home that is well, how do you put it...Nasty.

And if I get word that you are in "cahoots" with the nesting phase of pregnancy I'm really gonna be pissed, because apparently nothing can be clean enough and I almost thought about re-painting the whole entire house a soft grey/blue....until I fell asleep after tripping over the most annoying cat that won't leave me or my giant stomach alone...she is just as annoying as you hormones.

"What the heck, ughhh"....

Hormones you have made your way into my life and the only reason I am allowing this one way ticket, is because at the end of the day I know a sweet bundle of joy will be laid down in my arms, after I spend 36 hours pushing and yelling, and cursing just about every single person who is in the delivery room, and if the pool man opens his mouth for some words of encouragement while I am trying to get a small mellon though an even smaller hole, I might just deck him. I think he knows better though. On the other hand, my OBGYN is kinda mouthy, and i fear he doesn't know any better...so I might just deck him instead.

So Hormones, I just wanted to let you know I don't care for you in the slightest bit. You are an unwelcome guest in my home. Therefore, don't think about taking your shoes and off and getting comfy in my residence, don't leave your toothbrush on the counter, your dirty socks by the couch, or your bills in piles on my desk, nothing you do is safe around me. Therefore, in your best interest you better find a way to get out of here ASAP after my sweet punk has arrived safe and sound, honestly it's for your own safety.

You can thank me later.

Signed:

AKA~ one pissy 7.5 month pregnant girl about to loose her mind if one more person asks her if she is due any day!

P.S. oh and hormones if you feel like being useful, why don't you use your efforts into making my ta ta's a wee bit bigger, thankssomuch!

 

In Between the Pretty Pictures~

Well hello girls, i was missing my blog and you, so I thought today would be a good day pop on over here and "write it out" so to speak. As I drive to work in the wee hours of the morning, besides longing for cuddles with my little man, I write blog posts in my head...call me pathetic or call me wordy, I am both, it's ok.

I wanted to take a moment to share a personal story with you, which if you are a long time reader this is no surprise as I have always tried to keep this blog as real as possible without divulging every little thing...ya know us girls, we have to have some secrets...{she smiles sheepishly}

A while back I shared my story about "My Castle", if you missed it, you can read it here ...When I spoke to Kim, who wrote the fantastic article in "Romantic Country" about my home, she explained that she would be sending me all kinds of questions, about me, about my house and about my little family. She needed me to tell her as much as possible...now obviously Kim doesn't know me so well, cause I am a tattered open book with folded and creased pages, waiting for someone to pick me up and read me. When I got her e-mail the information, the details, the nitty gritty came flooding out onto the page...

One of the questions stopped me in my tracks, when she asked, "Why I bought his house, and what do I love about this house?".... suddenly one of those crinkled pages with a coffee stain near the bottom of the page unfolded, and as I hit the send button, I knew I had told my story of why I bought this house, and what I loved about this house...but I also knew in the back of my mind these were not the kind of details you put into a magazine article, an article that is suppose to inspire others with pretty pictures and artsy crafty goodness...so I thought I would unfold my story to you here. What lies in between the pages of a pretty magazine, where personal is accepted and where I can be myself, 100%...and leave the pretty for the magazines!

When I found this house I was in a really ugly marriage, the kind of marriage you lie about, the kind of marriage you see in movies and when you leave the theater you ask yourself, how does any woman get caught up in a life like that?...the kind of marriage you hide from your family, friends and neighbors for fear of embarrassment. I was broken to my core, I was looking for anything to make my life better (tangible or non-tangible), to make my life complete, to take the pain away.

When I walked through the door of my "Castle"  on a cold December day I felt it...the calmness, the saftey of being so close to my neighbors, the excitment that maybe this house would "save" me.... I was sold the moment I walked through the door. As my marriage fell apart about 2 months after I bought the house, I parted ways with a skeleton of a man who taught me many lessons in life, to whom this day his image makes me shake in my skin.

I found the freedom, I found the comfort, and the passion I was lacking in life in the walls of this home, my home.

I know you aren't suppose to find comfort, and passion in worldly possessions, but as I changed locks on my doors a few days later, and threw his leftover personal belongings into the trash, as I peeked out my front window in the morning light to make sure I was safe from my old life, I learned to sleep with just myself and two furr babies, and I slowly learned who I was...uncovered a tattered soul, found a loving heart, and every day my life grew more beautiful in this house, in my "castle". 

Over the 6 years I have lived in this house, I have moved, painted, re-arranged, sold and unmasked any memory of my old life, accept for one small train case that holds my "wedding" memories....this house has been my saving grace. I have put so much of me into this house...that when my friends walk in, most of them look around and say, "Tara, I can't define your style, but this house is so YOU..." and they are right.

It is me...and my Castle now holds all those worldly possessions that saved me, but it also holds, two precious souls that have been the cherry on top of the ice cream sundae...the pool man and my punk. My house, my "Castle" is no longer filled with tears, but with laughter, silliness, times of complete silence, times of comforted sadness, and times of acceptable joy...that has far surpassed my wildest dreams. 

So many of you put so much of yourself into your homes, so much of your passion lies in decorating, and moving furniture from one room to the next, in painting walls 4 different shades of the same color to make sure the color you choose is just right, only to change it a year later. So many of you have the same love, the same content feeling in your home, and when I read your blogs, when I read your stories, I melt, because in so many ways we are all the same...looking for love, longing for contentment, and a place of refuge for ourselves and our loved ones.

I have my place of refuge now, I have a place where I completely feel like me...I love being at home with my family...I love being in my "Castle"...and I am learning every day to love being in the skin that surrounds my heart...and finishing this tattered book of life with all the gritty details that fill in the blanks in between the pretty pictures.

An answer like this is not magazine appropriate, it is not what people want to read....however, I had to share a snippet of my story, because it was such an honor to have my home featured in a magazine...but it was more of an honor to know that life, my life started over over in the same home that held secrets and lies, and failure....and that one folded coffee stained page, can turn into a novel, that in the end is your life story, printed in a magazine with pretty pictures or stowed away in a dusty side drawer, it doesn't matter its all worth sharing.

And celebrating!!!

So make sure you celebrate every moment, every accomplishment, every written and folded page in your story...life is meant to be shared and loved...do it with all you have in you.

After all, what do you have to loose?

  

And to think you came here to see pretty pictures of a baby's nursery and re-done room for our punk...but alas you got a mouth full...

Shame on me...but you should have known better!

Muwahhh ha ha ha ha!

Blessings from this momma to you~

 P.S. our baby punk is doing good, thriving and growing big...he parties all day and sleeps all night...

And as much as I tell my big punk he is having a brother he stills tells everyone he is having a sister...

I think he will be in for a surprise when the baby comes!

oh the innocence of a child, it kills me sometimes!

{image found here}

 

Romantic Country~

Well hello there darlings!

Just thought I would pop in here while I devour a stick of mentos at my desk...it was either mentos or cheese covered popcorn that leaves a buttery residue all over your teeth and mouth, I chose the Mentos, i figured the baby would thank me later!

Quite a few months ago, Sunday Hendrickson and fabulous photographer, John Ellis ran sacked my home...uh-hem, I mean spent the entire day styling and staging each room with different treasures, as they took photo after photo of my home!

I was completely blown away when I got the e-mail asking if they could come and shoot my home...I am still a little awe struck that my home was featured in the latest edition of Romantic Country Magazine...

I only told my besties about the news, ya know just in case they decided not to include our nest in the magazine, so please forgive me for not sharing sooner...

 

I am humbled to be featured with so many creative and talented women, some I call my friends, such as the ever talented Jennifer Rizzo and the inspiring Tracey from French Larkspur! This magazine is full of inspiring ideas and super talented women...if you get a chance grab a copy for yourself!

Thank you Sunday for all your hard work, and thank you Kim, for creating a beautiful story that compliments our family and our home perfectly...and lastly thank you to Fifi for allowing my home to be in such a wonderful magazine. 

I am blessed beyond Measure....

{Someone should have told me about my horrid posture though...goodness...} 
 

I hope you are having a wonderful holiday season filled with all things sugary, lovable and warm!

 
 
'Til we meet again....

Blessings and Merry Christmas from this blondiensc to you!

 

 Oh, and yes we do believe!!!

{photos 1-2 borrowed from Jennifer Rizzo's blog...thanks Jen, you da bomb girl!}